Is it appropriate to use condition code 44 and go back to the inpatient order to indicate the start time of observation?
It is not appropriate to bill observation from the inpatient hospital admit date using condition code 44. Observation services would be billed once a physician’s order for observation was received. Further information on condition code 44 can be found in September 2009 Communiqu. http://www.wpsmedicare.com/ Click on “United States and U.S. Virgin Islands (Former Mutual of Omaha providers who joined WPS in November 2007)” Click on “Provider Part A” Click on “Publications” Click on “2009” under Communiqu Archive Click on “September 09” http://www.wpsmedicare.com/part_a/publications/0909comm.pdf CMS Internet Only Manual (IOM), Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 1, Section 50.3 For information on observation, see CMS IOM, Publication 100-04, Chapter 4, Section 290.2.2.
